Tennis-net support



Aug.`31,1926. 1,597,799

E. E. JOHNSON TENNIS NET SUPPORT Filed April 21, 1923- JFT/fighi.V

Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

ESKIL E. JOHNSON, OF BERYN, lLLNOS.

.TENNIS-nur surfeur.

.Application filed April 21, 1923.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tennis netsupports and stretching means therefor, the primary object of theinvention being to provide a device which renders it possible to adjustthe height of the tennis net to any degree desired and which willprevent the net from sagging.

Another important object of the invenic tion is to provide an improveddevice to which one end of the top cord of the net is attached, andwhich is adjustable vertically upon one of the tennis net supportingposts. A further object of the invention is to provide the stretchingdevice with means whereby the cord of the net may be readily associatedwith the device and adjusted with respect thereto when necessary.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means forassociation with the post which the stretcher is mounted upon so as toprevent the tennis net cord from engaging the post and wearing out.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

1n the accompanying drawings a part of the specification and whereinlike numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout theseveral views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tennis net support with thestretching means associated therewith,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the stretching device as appliedto a post, and arranged in adjusted position relative thereto,

Figure 8 is a vertical section of the upper end of one of the tennisnets supporting posts,

Figure l is a top plan of the tennis net cord anti-friction means,

Figure 5 is a plan of my improved stretching device, and

Figure 6 is a plan of a modification thereof illustrating the saineassociated with a post.

ln the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 7 designates a lawntennis net which is hung or suspended between a pair of supporting posts8 and 9. Three corners of the net may be fastened to the posts in anydesired man- Serial No. 633,675.

:new be described.

".the `top of the post 9 is bifurcated as at 11 inA a planesubstantially parallel to that of the net, after which a pulley wheelmay be journaled in the bifurcation so that its top extends above thetop of the post. However, when a pulley bracket 12 is used, as shown inFigures 3 and 1l, a substantially square recess 13 is formed in theupper outer corner of the post 9 so as to receive therein a pair ofspaced side plates 14 which depend from the bracket for snug engagementwith the side walls of the square recess 13. llillien the side plate 14are .fitted in the recess, their edges are flush with the outer and topsurfaces of the post. A fastening plate 15 constituting a part of thebracket connects the inner edges of the side plates 14; at the upperedges thereof, and is provided with a plurality of screw openings sothat screws or other suitable fastenings may be passed through andembedded in the top of the post for fastening the plates 15 to the topsurface of the post. A pulley 16 is journaled between the side plateslll so that the top of the pulley is arranged slightly above the top ofthe post so as to prevent the net cable 10 from rubbing against the postand wearing out.

The stretcher device consists of a member 17 which .may be of anyconfiguration,

and is provided with either a square or recfi:

tangular opening as shown in Figure 5 or an elliptical opening asdisclosed in Figure 6. However, it is to be understood that 1 do notcare to restrict the invention to any particular shape of opening, asthey all will perform the desired function, but certain of the openingswill accomplish the desired function in perhaps a more efficient way. Itwill also be understood that the openings in the members 17'are onlyslightly larger than the cross section of the posts with which they areassociated so that the member 17 may slide vertically upon the post whenthe member 17 is disposed in a horizontal plane. Consequently, when themember 17 is tilted slightly, the edges of the opening therein will becaused to bite into the post and maintain the member in the desiredadjusted position. r1`he member 17 as shown in Figure 6 having theelliptical opening 19 therein is of llO course adapted to be associatedwith a round post, and it will be understood that when this member istilted upon the post, the restricted ends of the elliptical opening 19will wedge upon the post to more securely retain it in position.

Each member 17 is equipped with a laterally projecting shank 2O which isarranged in the same plane with the member 17 and the free end of theshank is enlarged laterally so that an opening Q2 may be providedtherein and equip the ends of the shank with a pair of spaced parallelfingers 23, the free ends 24 of which are directed toward each other toprovice the end of the shank with a restricted passage communicatingwiththe opening 22. These fingers 8 may of course be of a resilientcharacter so that a cable may be forced between the inwardly directedends 24 of the fingers to be received in the opening 22. Thisconstruction is provided so as to eliminate the necessity of threadingthe net cable 10 through an opening in the member 17 for fastening thecable to the stretcher device. It will of course be understood that aknot will be provided in the free end of the cable 10 when it is desiredto eliminate tying knots to associate the cable with the stretcherdevice. .I-Iowever, as shown, in the drawing, the free end of the cableis passed through the opening 22 in the member 17 and knotted around theenlarged end of the shank 2O in a manner well understood.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that the net 7 may belowered by disposing the member 17 ina horizontal plane and permittingit to slide upwardly of the post thereby slackening the cable 10. Shouldit be desired to tighten the net 7, the member 17 is moved downwardly ofthe post after which the tension on the cable 10 will cause the shankend of the member 17 to be elevated whereby the member will be inclinedwith respect to the post so that opposite end edges of the opening 18will bite into the post and retain the stretcher device in the desiredposition.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference towhat ymight be considered to be the approved or I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As an article of manufacture, a clamping member comprising anenlarged base portion having an opening therein, said base portion beingprovided with a laterally projecting shank arranged in the same planetherewith, the free end of the shank being laterally enlarged to providea pair of spaced parallel spring lingers, the free ends of saidfingersbeing directed towards each other to provide the end of the shankwith a restricted passage.

2. A stretcher device comprising a meinber adapted to be slid-ablymounted upon a postand locked in position thereon, when tilted from ahorizontal position, said member having a laterally projecting shank,the free end thereof being laterally enlarged and being provided with anopening, `having a restricted passage communicating therewith.

3. A stretcher device comprising a member adapted to be slidablyassociated with the post and locked in position thereon when tilted froma horizontal plane, said member being provided with a laterallyextending shank the free end of which is enlarged to provide a pair ofsubstantially parallel spaced spring fingers, the free ends of saidlingers being directed toward each other to provide a `restrictedpassageway into the space between the arms.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

e nsKiL E. JOHNSON.

